Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

QE Tools Software Tutorial

Part I – Getting Started, Tool RoadMap,
Cause-and-Effect Diagrams, Measure Phase

QETOOLS

An excel-based Six Sigma statistical

software add-in.

qetools.com
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QE Tools Menu Items

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Topics
I. Getting Started
II. Six Sigma Methods - Tool Roadmap
III. Process Analysis - Qualitative Tools
IV. Process Capability Summary

Note: Not all tools are shown in this tutorial.

See help files for additional examples.

I. Getting Started

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Getting Started – Excel Menu

QE Tools appears as a menu

option in the main Excel toolbar.

Getting Started – New Data Sheet

QE Tools uses its own data sheet

when performing analyses.

You may begin by creating an

initial blank datasheet using the
New Data Sheet menu pick.

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Data Sheets

A new, pre-formatted worksheet is inserted with the

name DataSheet.
After you create a data sheet, you can add and
manipulate data in most of the ways familiar to you in
Excel (e.g., copy, paste, add formulas, etc.).
Note: You must define a variable name for each data
series in the Row: “Variable Name”.

Optional, you may include upper and lower

specification limits (USL and LSL) as well as a target
(nominal) value for each variable.

These will automatically be referenced for those

tools that require specification limits for analysis.
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Data Format in “DataSheet”

Data variables may either be values or

calculations of other variables.
Examples:
‘TotalVisit’ list values
‘TotalWait’ and ‘WattoVisit’ are formula.
Data for any variable may be constructed
using standard Excel formulas.
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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Variable Type Identifier

The Variable Type is automatically determined

when data is added or pasted into the Datasheet.
Type is either “data” (numerical) or “text.” Various
tools require certain data types in order to run. For
example, basic descriptive statistics (sample N,
mean, standard deviation, etc) can only be
computed for “data” type variable.
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Variable Names
n When entering variable names, QE Tools may update
after you enter them or paste from another worksheet.
QE Tools uses an algorithm to standardize variable
names. The algorithm ensures that:
n Certain characters are not allowed in variable names.
The following characters are stripped from variable names:
n :, \, /, ?, *, [, ], ‘ (apostrophe), <space>

n Variable names are no longer than 16 characters.

Names that are longer are shortened by using the first 8
and last 8 characters of whatever is entered.

n Duplicate names are not allowed to insure QE Tools knows

which variable you wish to analyze.

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Number of Worksheet Warnings

n QETools warns of having too many active
worksheets because performance may be
diminished with increasing file size.
n After 30 worksheets, QE tools issues a
warning message.
n Recommend creating a second analysis file or
removing unused worksheets.

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QE Tools Demo – Getting Started

n Create a new data sheet

n Enter raw data

n Numerical Data
n Text

n Enter Formula in DataSheet

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

II. Six Sigma Methods –

Tool Roadmap

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Six Sigma Tool Roadmap

n QE Tools provides a Six Sigma problem solving
roadmap with common analysis steps and
hyperlinks to analysis tools and templates.

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Example: Measure Phase

Blue Text
Represent
Hyperlinks
To Various
Analysis and
Templates
in QE Tools

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III. Process Analysis –

Qualitative Analysis Tools

Working with ideas / text

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Process Analysis – Qualitative Tools

n SIPOC Diagram
n Cause-Effect Diagram * Sample Templates Provided
n QFD - House of Quality
n FMEA Table*
n Process Control Plan Manufacturing or Transactional*

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Process Analysis Tools > SIPOC

Sample Excel Data File:
qetools-sampledata.xls

Select Variables Using

SIPOC Dialogue Box

OUTPUT: SIPOC Diagram - Loan Process

Suppliers Inputs Process Outputs Customers

• Appraisers • Lender • Loan Documents • Mortgage

Programs Customers
• Insurance • Interest Rates • Mortgage • External
Companies Underwriter
• Title Companies • Type of Loan • Lending
Institution
• Government • Loan Value

Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Final:

•Prepare •Process •Underwrite •Clear •Close Loan

Loan Loan Loan Conditions
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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

QE Tools Demo – SIPOC Diagram

Sample Excel Data File:
qetools-sampledata.xls

SIPOC Variables
Process
Suppliers
Inputs
Outputs
Customer

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Process Analysis Tools >

Cause-Effect Diagram
May enter data
Directly in dialogue
Box.

However, we recommend
entering reasons for
each cause category
in data sheet column.

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

QE Tools Demo –
Cause and Effect Diagram
Sample Excel Data Cause and Effect Diagram

File: Man Method

qetools-sampledata.xls
Late Crew Boarding Process

computer failure
wrong terminal

short staff
Late Pilot Gate Blocked

wrong terminal

short staff
Variables Used Example Late Cleaning

Machine
Late Flights
Environment FAA Delay Late Baggage Mechanical

Man Weather Late Meals Gate Not Working

Material
Method Late Fuel

Twiglet: Boarding
Environment Material Machine

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Process Analysis Tools > Control

Plan

Select
Control
Plan Template
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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

QE Tools Control Plan Template

Note: worksheets may be modified per user preference.

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IV. Process Capability

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Process Capability Summary

n Data Analysis Tools
n Sigma Level Calculator
n DPM Calculator - Normal
n Process Capability Graphical Summary*
n Variable is Normal

n Variable is Non-Normal – Best Fit with Weibull Distribution

n Variable is Binary – Assume Binomial Distribution

Note: Process Capability Graphical Summary includes:

summary statistics, observed DPM, expected DPM (distribution),
histogram, run charts, box plot, control charts where applicable

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Process Capability Summary >

Sigma Level Calculator

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Sigma Level Calculator - Example

Three different methods are available to calculate the “sigma level”

depending on the format of information available from your process. Enter
the appropriate information in white boxes and sigma level is calculated
automatically.
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Process Capability Summary >

DPM Calculator - Normal

If data may be assumed to

be normal, you may input
the average, standard
deviation and specification
limits in white boxes and QE
Tools automatically
estimates Defects per
million.

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Process Capability –
Graphical Summary*
n Different Process Capability Summaries are
available depending on data / distribution.
n Continuous Variable and Normal Distribution
n Continuous Variable and Non-Normal –
Best Fit with Weibull Distribution
n Binary Variable – Distribution assumed Binomial

Note: Process Capability Graphical Summary includes:

summary statistics, observed DPM, expected DPM (distribution),
histogram, run charts, box plot, control charts where applicable

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Process Capability Summary -

Normal

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Process Capability Summary –

Normal – Dialogue Box
Select one or more variables from the variable
list to analyze (note: each variable is output
to its own results worksheet).

Select type of control charts to

display on the results worksheet
(note: subgroup size is assumed 1
for “Ind / Moving Range”.

Options –
-- show out-of-control patterns.
-- manual scale run chart
-- enter specification limits if not
already entered on “data sheet”.

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Process Capability Summary –

Normal – Using Data Ranges

Optionally select a range of data to

analyze from a worksheet other than
the DataSheet (note: the first row is
assumed to be a label used as the
variable name).
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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Process Capability Summary –

Normal à Results
The output contains several sections:
• Statistical summary
• Expected Defects per Million
(distribution)
• Observed Defects per Million
• Histogram
• Run chart
• Box plot
• Control charts

Sample Excel Data File:

qetools-sampledata.xls
Output: Time in Waiting Room
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Results – Summary Stats - Histogram

Notice that the Upper Specification

Limit (USL) from the datasheet is
displayed on the chart and
summarized in the data output. 34

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Results – Run Chart – Box Plot

The Run Chart provides a time trend.

Box Plot summarizes basic

distribution. Example shown is skewed
right (more points > median).

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Process Capability Summary –

Non-normal (Weibull)

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Results- Non-normal (Weibull)

The output contains:
• Statistical summary
• Expected Defects per Million
(distribution)
• Observed Defects per Million
• Histogram
• Run chart
• Box plot

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Process Capability Summary –

Binary (Binomial)

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Module 24 – QE Software Tutorial 1a

Process Capability Summary –

Binary (Binomial) à Dialogue Box
Select two variables for the
analysis (one variable represents
the number of units and the
second is for the number
defective).

Do not enter defective

percentages – QE tools
automatically calculates.

Alternatively, select one variable

for the number defective and
enter a constant sample size.
Specify a target for the process
(note: the target does not figure
into any calculations but does
appear on the results worksheet
for reference).
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QE Tools Demo – Process Capability

Sample Excel Data File:
qetools-sampledata.xls

Sigma Level Calculator

DPM Calculator - Normal
Process Capability Graphical Summary*
Datasheet Variable: “TimeinWaitRoom”
Datasheet Variable: “TimeinWaitRoom”
Datasheet Variable: Units: “P-Units” and Defective: “P-Defective”

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